Patents by Inventor Paul Branch

Paul Branch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8544393
    Abstract: A table may include a handle to enhance portability. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, a first portion of a handle may be connected to a first portion of the table top and a second portion of the handle may be connected to a second portion of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions sized configured to receive portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in the receiving portions when the handle is in a refracted position and at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed outside the receiving portions when the handle is in an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Publication number: 20120210915
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between an folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in receiving portions when the handle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: LIFETIME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Publication number: 20120111242
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between an folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in receiving portions when the handle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: LIFETIME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Patent number: 8166894
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between a folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Patent number: 8091490
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between an folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in receiving portions when the handle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Patent number: 7975625
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and at least one leg assembly. The table top may include a first table top section and a second table top section. The table top sections may be movable between a first position in which the table top sections are generally aligned and a second position in which the table top sections are at an angle. The leg assembly may be movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top. The leg assembly may include a first support structure and a second support structure. The support structures may be movable between a generally aligned position and an angled position when the leg assembly is in the extended position. Moving the support structures to the angled position may help retain the leg assembly in the extended position. Moving the table top sections to the second position may help retain the support structures in the angled position and thus further help retain the leg assembly in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Katie Staples Topham, Jay Calkin, Larry Larcom, Paul Branch
  • Patent number: 7905185
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and a frame. The frame may be connected to the table top using one or more fasteners. When a force is applied to the table, such as a force that draws the frame away from the table top, the fasteners may contact and/or engage one or more stops, which may help resist the frame's movement away from the table top and may help prevent damage to the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Peery, Donald Waite, Paul Branch
  • Publication number: 20090293778
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and a support structure connected to the table top. The support structure may include a pair of legs that are movable between extended and collapsed positions relative to the table top. The support structure may also include a brace assembly with a first portion connected to the legs and a second portion connected to the table top. The first portion of the brace assembly may be a unitary, one-piece structure or it may include multiple interconnected components. The first portion of the brace assembly is preferably curved upwardly and inwardly towards a center portion of the table top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Branch
  • Publication number: 20090078173
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and at least one leg assembly. The table top may include a first table top section and a second table top section. The table top sections may be movable between a first position in which the table top sections are generally aligned and a second position in which the table top sections are at an angle. The leg assembly may be movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top. The leg assembly may include a first support structure and a second support structure. The support structures may be movable between a generally aligned position and an angled position when the leg assembly is in the extended position. Moving the support structures to the angled position may help retain the leg assembly in the extended position. Moving the table top sections to the second position may help retain the support structures in the angled position and thus further help retain the leg assembly in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Katie Staples Topham, Jay Calkin, Larry Larcom, Paul Branch
  • Publication number: 20080202390
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between an folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in receiving portions when the handle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Ed VanNimwegen
  • Publication number: 20080078310
    Abstract: A table may include a table top, legs, frame and one or more bosses that are sized and configured to allow objects to be attached to the table top. For example, the bosses may be sized and configured to allow the frame to be connected to the table top. The bosses may include a body and reinforcing members that extend outwardly in non-radial directions. The table top may also include ribs that are preferably disposed in a predetermined pattern. For example, a portion of the table top may include a larger number or density of ribs than another portion. In addition, the ribs may be sized and configured to provide a table top with generally uniform characteristics, such as a table top with generally uniform strength and/or rigidity. The table may further be sized and configured to move between a folded position and an unfolded position, and a retainer may be sized and configured to secure the table in the folded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Edward VanNimwegen, Paul Branch
  • Publication number: 20070289506
    Abstract: A table may include a frame that is movable between an extended or use position and a collapsed or storage position. The table may also include a table top that is movable between an extended or use position and a collapsed or storage position. In addition, the table top may include one or more sections that may rotate, pivot, tilt and/or move into different positions. The table may further include a locking assembly that is sized and configured to lock the table top sections into one or more desired positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Branch, Katie Staples, Ed VanNimwegen, S. Nye
  • Publication number: 20070234934
    Abstract: A table may include a table top that is movable between an extended or use position and a collapsed or storage position. The table may also include a frame that is between an extended or use position and a collapsed or storage position. In addition, the table may include a table top that includes sections which may rotate, pivot, tilt and/or move among a plurality of relative positions. The table may further include a locking assembly that is sized and configured to lock the table top sections in desired positions. Finally, the table may include one or more wheels that facilitate movement of the table. Advantageously, the wheels may facilitate movement of the table if the table top and/or frame are in the use or collapsed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: PAUL BRANCH, Katie Staples, Edward Vannimwegen, S. Nye
  • Publication number: 20070199483
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and a frame. The frame may be connected to the table top using one or more fasteners. When a force is applied to the table, such as a force that draws the frame away from the table top, the fasteners may contact and/or engage one or more stops, which may help resist the frame's movement away from the table top and may help prevent damage to the table top.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Wendell Peery, Donald Waite, Paul Branch
  • Patent number: 6118082
    Abstract: A strain gauge sensor for measuring the unit weight of a moving sliver in a textile machine, comprising a support rigidly mounted on a sliver output end of the textile machine and a trumpet carried by the support for outputting a condensed sliver. At least one strain gauge is carried by the support and responsive to strain imposed on the support by movement of sliver through the trumpet. Electrical circuit is means carried by the support in electrically communicating relation to the strain gauge, and includes a power supply and amplifier carried by the electrical circuit on the support for outputting an excitation voltage and a Wheatstone bridge for receiving the excitation voltage from tile power supply and applying the excitation voltage to the at least one strain gauge, receiving a feedback signal from the strain gauge and outputting a control signal corresponding to the weight of the sliver passing through the trumpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Paul Branch Bissette
  • Patent number: 6018129
    Abstract: A strain gauge sensor for measuring the unit weight of a moving sliver in a textile machine, comprising a support rigidly mounted on a sliver output end of the textile machine and a trumpet carried by the support for outputting a condensed sliver. At least one strain gauge is carried by the support and responsive to strain imposed on the support by movement of sliver through the trumpet. Electrical circuit is means carried by the support in electrically communicating relation to the strain gauge, and includes a power supply and amplifier carried by the electrical circuit on the support for outputting an excitation voltage and a Wheatstone bridge for receiving the excitation voltage from the power supply and applying the excitation voltage to the at least one strain gauge, receiving a feedback signal from the strain gauge and outputting a control signal corresponding to the weight of the sliver passing through the trumpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: M & M Electric Service Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Branch Bissette
  • Patent number: D619831
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Branch